High-voltage switch.



A. W. BURKE. HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNK 14, 1911.

1,099,421. I Patented June 9, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

A. W. BURKE.

HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 14, 1911.

- 1 099 421 Patented June 9, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I iii- 1%- n z l n v ummnmu llllllllll ll mumu eases: v lkuenfor: f J-Z/W- %%%n@ 45. 49M fwwz/w WOODWA-RD BURKE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

HIGH-VOLTAGE SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Applicationfiled June 14, 1911. Serial No. 638,098.

. To all whom it may concern:

ments in High-Voltage Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This switch is especially designed for use on high-voltage transmission-lines, and is adapted to open the circuit under load.

The switch comprises a fixed clip and a pivoted blade, provided with opposed diverging arc horns, the horn carried by the blade being a triangular loop of resilient metal, in position to strike the fixed horn before the switch members engage and to remain in contact therewith until they are disengaged.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a single-pole single-throw switch; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the switch, on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1, showing an insulator cap in section; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line IV IV of Fig. 3, showing the means for securing an insulator-cap; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the switch, with the blade dis engaged and the horns about to separate; Figs. 6 and 7 are a side elevation and a plan View, respectively, of a double-break singlethrow switch; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a single-pole double-throw switch.

The switch illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a fixed clip 1 and a pivoted blade 2. The clip consists of two slitted diverging copper jaws, which, with a line-socket 3, are screwed to the top of a brass cap 4, fixed on an in sulator 5. The blade 2 consists of a straight copper bar, screwed to the tops of twobrass caps 6, 7, fixed on insulators 8, 9. The insulator 5 is carried by a pin 10 rising from a fixed support-bar 11, and the insulators 8, 9 are carried by pins 12, 13, rising from a bar 14 which is carried by the upper end of a vertical shaft 15, revoluble in a bearing 16 by a pivoted handle 17 at its lower end. A cap-screw 18, acting as a pivot, extends downward through a hole in the end of a bar 19 and another hole in the end of the blade 2,'into the brass cap 7. The copper bar 19 has a line-socket 20. The imperfect electrical joint between the blade 2 and bar 19 is shunted by a flexible conductor 21:. An

arc horn 22, consisting of an inclined bronze rod, is secured at its lower end iii the brass cap 4, extending through a hole in the end of a copper bar 23, clamped between the clip-jaws 1. The other are horn 24 consists 6 of a resilient bronze rod bent to form a triangular loop, with one end secured in the brass cap 7. The other end of the loop carries an eye 25 which receives and is adapted to pivot on the vertical portion 26 6 of the loop. The lower end of the vertical portion 26 extends through a hole in the blade 2. When the switch is open, the loop 24 lies in a vertical plane intersecting the blade 2 at a considerable angle, as shown in 7 Fig. 5. It is to be noted that the movement of the switch member and its horn is transverse to the plane of the moving horn. As the switch is closed, the lower projecting end of the horn 24 first engages the lower 7 end of the horn 22, and as the blade is forced into engagement with the clip the inclined side of the horn 24 springs to the final posi tion shown in Fig. 3, being then under a tension which is considerable but not sufficient 8 to overcome the frictional grip of the clipjaws on the blade. When the switch is opened, the blade 2 first leaves the clip-jaws 1, the opening being facilitated by the tension of the bent horn 24. As soon as the 8 blade snaps out of the clip, the horn 24 springs back to its normal vertical position and rotates the switch blade farther away from the clip, the horn 24 then following and separating from the horn 22. At the moment of separation an arc springs between the adjacent lower ends of the two horns but quickly rises along'their diverging portions and is thereby elongated and broken.-

Each of the brass caps 4, 6, 7 is secured on its insulator by the means shown in section in Figs. 3 and, 4. This means comprises an incomplete brass ring 27 which enga es the external groove 28 in the head of the 1nsulator, and a depending cap-flange 29 which surrounds'this ring and is secured to it by a number of radial pointed set-screws 30.

The double-break single-throw switch shown in Figs. 6, 7 practically consists of two of the switches shown in Fig. 1, except that the two movable resilient horns 24*,24- are carried by brass caps and insulators on a common revoluble member 14, the horn 24 being opposed by a born 22 and. the horn 1 24 by a horn 22. The straight switch-blade 2 extends in both directions from the center of rotation, being adapted to engage the clips 1, 1 having the line-sockets 3 and 3", respectively.

'lhe double-throw single-pole switch shown in Fig. 8 comprises two fixed clips 1, 1, each having a line-socket and a horn 22, 22 and an intermediate blade 29, carried by caps and insulators and capable of being revolved alternately into engagement with either clip. The blade has a pivoted linesocket 20 and a double triangular horn with inclined limbs 24, 24:, adapted to contact with'the fixed horns 22, 22, respectively.

I claim:

1. A switch, comprising relatively movable switch members having opposed arc horns, one horn being resilient, one of said members being movable transversely to the plane of its horn, said horns constructed so as to contact when 'said members are engaged and flex the resilient horn, and tohavinga resilient arc horn and pivoted to move transversely to the plane of said resili ent horn, said resilient horn constructed so as to strike the fixed horn and be flexed before said members engage and to remain in contact therewith until the members are disengaged; 4

3. A switch, comprising a fixed switch member having an are born and a member having a resilient triangular arc horn supported at a point remote from the fixed horn members, and a resilient double are born carried by said movable member, intermediate member being movable transversely to the plane of said double horn, said double horn constructed so as to contact with a fixed horn'or horns and be flexed when said switch members are engaged and to spring away therefrom after the members are disengaged. 1

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of-two witnesses.

ALFRED WOQDWARD BU KE.-

a Witnesses:

B. W. KERR, ANNA M. BEACH.. 

